Cowboy Up (A Bad Boy Romance 6): A Dixie Reapers MC Spinoff

Chapter One

Jackson

“Jackson! Jackson!” The roar of the crowd assaulted my ears as I settled over the bronc in the chute. My heart hammered in my chest, adrenaline zipping through my veins. Every ride was different, but this part remained the same.

“Jackson! You got this!” Carter Bales, my longtime friend, was shouting encouragement from the sidelines. With one hand gripping a cold beer and the other waving wildly in the air, he seemed to be enjoying the event almost as much as I was. I couldn’t help but grin. I already had sweat dripping down my face, and soon I’d have the dust from the arena coating me.

“Come on, Adler! Show ‘em what you’re made of!” another voice chimed in, joining Carter’s cheers. The energy of the crowd was infectious, and I found myself feeding off their excitement.

I caught glimpses of my fellow rodeo cowboys watching from the sidelines. They were a motley crew of rough-and-tumble men, each one of them a seasoned rider with countless bruises and scars to show for it. And yet, despite the dangers that came with the sport, there was an undeniable camaraderie between us all. We were more than just friends -- we were a family bound together by our shared passion for the rodeo.

Although, we each hoped the other would fall off before the buzzer. Each of us wanted the top spot in our events.

“You’ll get the top spot, Jackson!” Carter called out again, his voice barely audible over the din of the crowd. I could see the excitement in his eyes, the thrill of watching me push myself to the limit. And for a moment, I allowed myself to bask in the glory of it all -- the adrenaline, the cheers, the sheer exhilaration of being a rodeo cowboy.

Making sure my hat was smashed down far enough it wouldn’t fly off, I gripped the rigging and gave a nod to the men waiting to open the chute. Once the doors opened, the bronc burst from the chute, twisting and bucking.

Eight seconds, just eight seconds. I tried to focus on the rhythm of the ride, to stay one step ahead of the animal’s frantic movements. It was a battle of wits and strength, a test of endurance that had become second nature to me over the years. Holding on tightly, my knuckles turned white with the effort. The bronco beneath me bucked and kicked like a beast possessed, desperate to unseat me from its back. But I held on, every muscle in my body working together to keep me anchored to the wild creature.

Five… four… three… I counted down the seconds in my head, willing myself to hold on just a little bit longer. The bronco beneath me seemed to sense my determination and redoubled its efforts to unseat me, but I held fast, refusing to give in.

Two… one!

And just like that, it was over. The buzzer rang out, signaling the end of my ride, and I released the reins, allowing myself to be thrown from the bronco’s back and onto the dirt floor of the arena. I landed in a crouch, then stood and waved my hat to the crowd. The cheers from the audience washed over me like a tidal wave as I stood there, panting and covered in sweat, but victorious. I didn’t know if I’d earned enough points to make the top three, and I watched the scoreboard.

“Jackson! That was amazing!” Carter said as I climbed the rail to exit the arena. “You really showed ‘em who’s boss out there!”

“Thanks,” I replied with a weary grin, feeling the ache in my muscles already beginning to set in. But it didn’t matter -- the pain, the exhaustion, the risk -- none of it mattered when I was on the back of a bronc, doing what I loved most. And with friends like Carter by my side, cheering me on every step of the way, I knew that nothing -- not even the wildest bronco -- could keep me down for long.

The announcer said my score, and I watched as my name took the top spot on the scoreboard. I couldn’t hold back my smile. Today had been an excellent day, and as the final ride, I knew no one was knocking me from that position.

I leaned against the railing, catching my breath and wiping the sweat from my brow. The next event would start in a few minutes. Bull riding. I’d done my fair share in the past, but broncs were my passion, just like my dad. He’d been a national champion, and that was my goal as well.

The rodeo was in full swing, the electrifying atmosphere filling every corner of the arena with energy and excitement. As I watched the cowboys compete, a strange mixture of pride and envy washed over me -- pride for my fellow riders, who threw themselves into the fray with reckless abandon, and envy for the adrenaline that coursed through their veins, propelling them toward victory or defeat.

“Hey, man, you did great out there,” Carter said, clapping me on the back and taking a swig from his beer. “You’ll be back on top in no time.”

“Thanks,” I responded with a half-hearted smile, my attention still focused on the action unfolding before us. I might have come in first this time, but I needed to place in the next three rodeos to make it to nationals.

“J-Jackson?” a voice whispered hesitantly from behind me. Surprised, I turned around to find Mia Cox standing there, her face pale and her eyes brimming with tears. A flash of concern shot through me. It was unusual to see her without her usual bright smile and infectious laughter.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” I asked gently, drawing her away from the chaos of the rodeo and into a quieter corner.

Mia swallowed hard, her eyes darting between me and Carter, who had grown silent at her appearance. “I… I need to talk to Carter. Could you…”

The way her voice trembled, and she couldn’t meet our gazes, made me think she had bad news. Clearly, something private between the two of them. I hoped like hell he hadn’t fucked up. Everyone knew Mia was only seventeen. Even though she’d left home to chase after Carter, I’d told him to keep things platonic. Why did I get the feeling he hadn’t done that?

“All right.” I nodded, stepping back to give them some space. I saw Carter’s expression shift from curiosity to apprehension as he set his beer down and turned to face her.

“Talk to me, Mia. What’s going on?” he asked.

He hadn’t even given me a chance to move far enough away I wouldn’t overhear them. And her next words stopped me in my tracks.

“I’m… I’m pregnant, Carter,” she blurted out, tears streaming down her face. “And it’s yours.”

Holy. Shit! I stared at him, wondering if he’d realized yet just how badly he’d fucked up. Forget the fact they were going to have a kid, he was in his twenties and she wasn’t even legal yet. One phone call from her or her family, and he’d be locked up for statutory rape. What the hell had he been thinking?

The noise of the rodeo seemed to fade into the background as the weight of her words settled upon us. I glanced at Carter, searching for some sign of emotion -- joy, fear, anything -- but his face remained impassive.

“Are you sure?” he asked quietly, his eyes never leaving hers.

Mia nodded, wiping away her tears with the back of her hand. “I’ve taken three tests, Carter. They all came back positive.”

A heavy silence hung in the air between them, filled with unspoken questions and fears. As I watched from the sidelines, my heart ached for both of them -- for Mia, who had been thrust into a terrifying and uncertain future, and for Carter, whose life had just been turned upside down in an instant. Although, to be fair, if he’d kept his dick in his pants, which in this case he definitely should have done, then they wouldn’t be having this discussion right now.

“All right,” Carter finally said. “We’ll figure something out.”

“Thank you,” Mia whispered, her shoulders sagging with relief as she leaned against him, seeking comfort in his embrace. As they stood there together, their lives forever changed by the revelation of a single secret, I couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of foreboding, an icy chill that crept up my spine and whispered of dark days to come. When had Carter ever acted this way? He was always loud, obnoxious, and quick to anger.

For now, all I could do was offer my support and stand by their side, no matter what the future held. I should have listened to that inner voice and stuck to Mia like glue. If I had, then things might have turned out differently.

* * *

Two Days Later

Carter’s face twisted into a snarl, his grip on the beer in his hand tightening until I feared the bottle might shatter. I should have known things would turn out this way. Although, I’d never seen him act like this with a woman before. I remained tense and ready to intervene the moment I thought he was going too far.

How many beers had he had? Five? Six? He looked completely plastered. I was thankful I’d decided to come to this rodeo. At first, I’d thought to pass and go to a different event, but when I found out Carter was heading here, something told me to follow.

Why the fuck was he doing this right by the arena? I could barely focus on my upcoming ride. A quick glance showed I needed to get moving if I wanted to make this ride count.

“You stupid little whore,” he spat, his words laced with venom and rage that made my blood run cold. “You think I’m gonna stick around and play daddy to some brat? You’re out of your Goddamn mind!”

Mia recoiled, her eyes wide with terror. Shit! If he took a swing at her, I’d have to forget my damn ride and go help her. Hold on just a bit longer.

“Jackson, it’s now or never,” said one of the cowboys waiting for me. I pulled my attention away from Carter and Mia, hoping I wasn’t making a mistake. I knew I’d ride like shit if I sat here worrying about her.

Closing my eyes, I cleared my mind, blocked out all the noise around me, adjusted my grip and gave the cowboy a nod. He opened the chute and the bronc beneath me bolted in a straight line. Bastard didn’t start bucking until we’d reached the other end of the arena. If I got a shitty score for drawing this horse, I was going to be pissed.

The horse’s hooves would pound into the dirt, then he’d go airborne again. He did his best to scrape me off on the arena fencing when he couldn’t seem to throw me. Sweat dripped into my eyes and I held on, hoping for a high enough score to at least keep my place. I was gunning for nationals and needed every point.

As the buzzer sounded, I jumped off the bronco. The moment my feet hit the arena floor, I took off for the fence. My body still hummed with energy from the ride, every muscle tense. I cleared the fence and closed the distance.

I’d never seen my friend act like this before, and it sickened me.

“Please, Carter,” she begged. “I didn’t want this to happen either, but we have to do something.”

“Then get rid of it!” he bellowed, causing heads to turn in their direction. “I don’t give a damn how, just make sure it’s gone!”

The bond between us as friends had shattered in an instant, and I couldn’t let Carter hurt Mia any further.

“Hey!” I shouted, my voice firm and commanding. “Leave her alone, Carter!”

He whipped around to face me, his eyes blazing with fury, and for a moment I saw the man I’d once considered a brother. But that fleeting glimpse disappeared as quickly as it had come, replaced by the monster he’d become. I’d like to hope it was only the alcohol, but I worried I might be seeing his true self for the first time.

“Stay out of this, Jackson!” he snarled, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. “This ain’t your business!”

“Like hell it isn’t,” I shot back, my heart pounding in my chest as I positioned myself between him and Mia. “You don’t get to treat her like this, not while I’m still breathing.”

My words hung heavy in the air between us, a testament to the line we’d crossed and the friendship we’d just left behind. We stood there, two men who’d once been closer than brothers, now locked in a battle neither of us could back down from. I’d never let him, or any man, hurt a woman. Not in my presence. I’d been raised to take care of those weaker than me, and Mia definitely qualified.

“Get the hell away from her, Carter!” I demanded, my voice unwavering. She trembled behind me. I heard her suck in a breath and sniffle, which meant she was most likely crying. I felt her shaky hands press against my back.

“Who the hell do you think you are?” Carter seethed, his bloodshot eyes filled with rage. He threw his beer to the ground, the glass shattering against the dirt, and clenched his fists.

“Someone who won’t stand by and watch you hurt a woman,” I replied, my pulse racing, knowing the situation was spiraling out of control.

“Stay out of it, Jackson!” Carter spat, his face contorted into a snarl. “I told you this ain’t your business!”

I shook my head, refusing to back down. “It became my business when you laid a hand on her. Or are you trying to tell me one side of her face is redder than the other for a reason besides you hitting her?”

Carter’s nostrils flared, the alcohol and anger fueling him like a wildfire. He lunged at me, swinging a wild punch aimed straight for my face. I could feel the heat of his fist as it narrowly missed me, my instincts and years of rodeo reflexes kicking in as I expertly dodged the blow.

“Is this how you want to handle things, Carter?” I asked, my heart pounding even faster now, adrenaline coursing through my veins. But before he could answer, I retaliated with a powerful punch of my own, connecting with his jaw.

“Son of a bitch!” he cursed, stumbling back a few steps, clearly stunned by the force of my blow.

“Leave her alone or I swear, I won’t hesitate to knock some sense into you,” I warned, my eyes locked onto his, showing him I meant every word.

He glared at me, his face reddening with humiliation and fury, but he didn’t make another move. His hands fisted at his sides, and I wondered if he was going to take another swing at me. The sweat dripped off my brow as I stared into Carter’s rage-filled eyes, preparing for his next move. I couldn’t afford to let my guard down -- not with Mia’s safety on the line.

“Is that all you got?” Carter snarled, wiping blood from his mouth.

“Leave her alone, Carter,” I warned, my chest heaving with the effort it took to keep my emotions in check. “This ends now.”

“Over my dead body,” he spat back, throwing another punch. But I was ready. With practiced ease, I sidestepped his attack and landed a decisive uppercut to his jaw.

He came after me again, but in his drunken state, he was no match for me. As much as I hated to hurt the man who’d once been my friend, I landed blow after blow to his ribs, gut, and face. If he’d backed down, I’d have let him go. He charged me again. I slammed my fist into his cheek.

Carter’s body crumpled to the ground like a rag doll, the fight finally drained out of him. Silence fell over the rodeo arena as everyone held their breath, waiting to see what would happen next. Shit! I hadn’t even realized everyone was watching us. Didn’t surprise me no one was stepping forward. They all wanted to watch the drama unfold, but no one wanted to take responsibility for whatever happened.

He groaned and struggled to get to his knees.

“Stay away from her, Carter,” I warned.

“Think you can tell me what to do?” he spat, his voice slurred with alcohol.

“About Mia? Yeah, I do,” I replied. “Someone needs to protect her from you. When did you become such a mean drunk?”

“Who are you to decide what’s best for her?” Carter sneered, wiping the blood from his lip as he advanced.

“Someone who won’t lay a hand on her in anger.” The alcohol had completely pickled his brain. “Go sleep it off, Carter.”

He staggered to his feet and disappeared into the crowd. I had a feeling he’d come for her again. Maybe not today, but sometime in the future. I trusted my gut, and it was telling me Mia was still in danger.

“Jackson, please,” Mia whispered, her hand on my arm. Suddenly, the noise of the surrounding chaos seemed to fade away, and all I could hear was her voice, her fear and vulnerability plain for me to see. In that moment, I realized this wasn’t just about teaching Carter a lesson. It was about showing Mia she had someone in her corner, someone who would protect her no matter what.

“Okay,” I said. “It’s over.”

I took her hand in mine, leading her away from the crowd. I might not know a lot about pregnant women, but the stress couldn’t be good for her or the baby. She needed somewhere quiet, and we both needed time to think.

“Where are we going?” Mia asked, her eyes still brimming with fear.

“Somewhere safe,” I assured her. “Away from all this. Just trust me, okay?”

“Okay,” she agreed, her voice barely more than a whisper.

I could feel her body trembling as we moved through the sea of people, and I wished more than anything that I could take away her pain. But for now, all I could do was guide her toward safety, one step at a time.

“Almost there,” I murmured, my eyes scanning the area for any sign of danger. “Just keep holding on.”

Not knowing what else to do, I led her toward the motel nearby. I’d walked here this morning, or I’d have put her in my truck. The motel was on the outskirts of the rodeo grounds. It wasn’t glamorous, but it appeared clean enough.

“Jackson…” Her lower lip trembled. The sight of her like that made my heart ache, and I vowed to do everything in my power to ensure she never had to feel this kind of fear again.

“Hey,” I whispered, reaching out to lightly touch her chin. “Are you okay?”

“Y-yeah,” she stammered, offering me a weak smile as I lead her inside. “Thank you, Jackson… for everything. I don’t know what he’d have done if you hadn’t intervened.”

“Of course,” I replied, meeting her gaze with a reassuring grin. “I’ll always be here for you, Mia. No matter what.”

She sniffled and a tear rolled down her cheek. I grabbed some tissues from the box on the counter by the sink and handed them to her. She dabbed at her eyes and blew her nose. Even now, she seemed so small. How could Carter have ever hurt her like this?

“Are you okay?” I asked, my voice soft with concern.

Mia hesitated. “I… I don’t know. I’m scared, Jackson.”

“Hey,” I said gently, reaching out to take her hand. “You’re not alone in this. I’ve got your back. I meant it when I said no matter what.”

I didn’t know a lot about Mia, except that she was now entirely on her own. With Carter out of the picture, she’d have nowhere to go. Shit. He probably had her things. Although, now that I thought about it, I’d never seen her in more than three different shirts. She always wore jeans and boots. Did she not own much?

“Thank you,” she whispered, her grip tightening around my hand. “It just feels like everything’s falling apart. I never thought Carter would react like that.”

“Sometimes we don’t really know people until they show their true colors,” I replied, anger simmering beneath my words as I thought about what Carter had done. “But he’ll never hurt you again. I promise.”

“Can we really be sure of that?” Mia questioned, her fear palpable.

“I won’t let him,” I answered firmly, my resolve unwavering. “No one gets away with hurting someone I care about. We’re friends, right?”

Even though I hadn’t known her as long as Carter, she’d been at every rodeo since they’d started dating. We’d watched Carter’s events together, and the three of us had gone out to eat many times. Mia had always seemed like a sweetheart, and I’d hoped she’d be good for Carter. Guess I should have worried more about him being an asshole to her.

“Yeah, we are.” Mia looked up at me. “I don’t know what I’d do without you, Jackson.”

“Let’s not think about that,” I suggested, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. “We’ll figure this out together, all right?”

“Okay,” she agreed, swallowing hard.

I had no idea how I should help her right now. We’d have to take things one step at a time. For the moment, I just needed to keep her away from Carter.

“We need to talk about a few things,” I said. “Come up with a plan. Are you up for it?”

“Okay,” she said softly. “I was staying with Carter.”

“What about your things? Do you want me to try and get them for you?”

She shook her head. “It was only a few shirts and some panties.”

“Then we’ll get you some new things before we leave town. And don’t even try to argue. I have the money to cover the expenses.” I studied her for a moment. “I think you need to come with me when I check out and move on to the next event. With some luck, Carter won’t be there.”

“I don’t want to be a burden,” she said.

“Hey, you’re not any trouble, Mia. I want to help you, all right?”

She nodded and leaned into me, letting me hug her close. I didn’t know what the hell was going to happen going forward, but I’d make sure she was okay. Whatever it took.